Benton / Welliford
I am looking for an African American male, Charles Welliford (Wiliford) who was in Union county Arkansas in 1870 and 1880. Wife listed as Mary in 1870, wife listed as louisa in 1880. There is a death record in 1880 stating that Mary died after child birth. So it is believed that all the children in the household in 1880 are a product of her union with Charles. It is known that the younger children used the name Benton as adults, and that Charles was listed a Wefford Benton in the fourth youngest child obituary.
Need a clear story on why/how the name changed from Welliford to Benton. There was a girl named Benton living in the house in 1870